SUMMARY: Common treatments for bad breath, toothpaste, gum and mouthwashes, often contain dyes, which give them their bright colors. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will convene a panel of healthcare experts to determine whether or not these dyes are linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to HealthDay News.

Posted: April 7, 2011

Common treatments for bad breath, toothpaste, gum and mouthwashes, often contain dyes, which give them their bright colors. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will convene a panel of healthcare experts to determine whether or not these dyes are linked to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to HealthDay News.

Diagnoses of the condition are widespread in the U.S. Nearly 10 percent of children between the ages of 4 and 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. That amounts to 5.4 million American youths.

While no clear link has yet been established between food dyes and the exacerbation of ADHD, plenty of experts have already said that they suspect the connection may exist. Psychiatric researcher David Schaub, a professor at Columbia University and FDA panel member, told the news source that the upcoming meeting will be "a big step forward."

Rather than risking excess dye absorption from typical children's toothpastes, it may be beneficial to try specialty breath freshening products that are dye-free. These include rinses and tablets that neutralize volatile sulfur compounds, as well as probiotics systems like the Aktiv K-12 Probiotic Kit.